Call for new order to protect Carrickmines

The High Court heard calls today for a new Environmental Impact Statement to be carried out on the rooms of Carrickmines Castle.

The former director of archaeological excavations at the site said: “The original EIS in 1997 did not take account of the full “archaeological significance”.

Dr Mark Clinton who headed excavations between 2000 and 2002 said that he carried out his own study of the East Field area of the site in July 2001 and it was “alive with potential archaeological features".

Dr Clinton’s comments were contained in an affidavit read to the High Court on the second day of a constitutional challenge to legislation allowing for a section of the M50 motorway to go ahead.

Lawyers for Dublin conservationist Dominic Dunne claims that a section of the National Monument Amendment Act (2004), which allowed for the partial destruction of the remains of a thirteenth century medieval fort, is unconstitutional.

After a two years delay, work resumed on the South Dublin site on August 16 but a High Court order has halted the work since August 19, pending a full injunction hearing.

The South Eastern Motorway, which passes over this site of Carrick Mines Castle, is the last section of Dublin’s M50 motorway to be constructed.

Lawyers for Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council claim that it is costing the taxpayer €357,000 each week that the work is delayed.

They claim that sit-in protests and legal battles since August 2002 have added €20m to the €596m completion cost of the Ballinteer-Shankil Route.

The hearing, before Ms Justice Mary Laffoy continues on Monday.